"Prepare Your Coffin"

In his Pitchfork review of Tortoise's 2006 excellent odds'n'sods box set, A Lazarus Taxon, Jess Harvell wrote that the package's grey-all-over color scheme gave it "a definite, if unfortunate, tombstone vibe." And considering the set featured work from 1995 to 2001-- and that the Chicago band's post-2001 work had longtime fans shrugging and apologizing more than listening-- the gravestone ref seemed spot-on. "Remember post-rock? Yeah, yeah. That vibraphone solo at the Metro? Good times, good times. Anyway, you wanna see Animal Collective's show next month?" etc. Tortoise did their thing; their thing was done.

But this song isn't called "Prepare Our Coffin" now, is it? I'm more than happy to report that this group of veteran jazzbo's, weirdos, and post-everythingers have come up with their most rocking track since classic Standards opener "Seneca". Post-nothing might be more appropriate. Granted, there's no hook or whatever-- but there's plenty of Steely Dan-via-Neu!-via-Battles riffage, all covered in a faultless hermetic seal that says, "We are Tortoise, we do this shit." Too much? Consider: "Prepare Your Coffin" would be a perfect pre-lame Ice Cube song title.